Victoria belonged to someone in our area. After seeing her decline for quite some time I approached the owner to see if he needed help. The decision was made to bring her to TIER where she can be fed and cared for.

Updates

1/1/2009

She talked to me.&nbsp From the first time I walked up to Tori she was talking.&nbsp Loudly letting me know that she was here and wanted my attention.&nbsp

After her arrival, she continued to beckon.&nbsp Singing her song with enthusiasm.&nbsp Her eyes filled with an appeal for recognition and insistence.&nbsp While I went about my chores of feeding, watering, medicating, brushing, cleaning for the TIER residents, she kept a watchful eye.&nbsp Every time I passed close to where she was eating or standing, she would talk to me.&nbsp No matter if I had stroked and spoken to her just minutes before, upon my next walk by her she would talk to me.&nbsp&nbsp She would lift her head, look at you with those imploring eyes while she munched her feed and call out.&nbsp

When I would step out of the house and walk toward the area where the horses are, hers was the first voice I would hear.&nbsp Loudly greeting me and claiming my immediate attention.&nbsp Usually, she was out and about because I wanted her to be able to walk freely, meet the other horses, perhaps form a bond with another resident, and hopefully add some strength to her terribly diminished muscles.

She would trumpet her &ldquoHello!," walk towards me and stop several feet away.&nbsp Respectfully asking me for a word or touch of acknowledgement while giving back encouragement and trust.&nbsp Such a lovely, kind mare.&nbsp Whenever there was a need to halter her and lead her somewhere she would elegantly dip her head into the halter and wait for my cue to walk forward. &nbspNever pushy, always respectful, always right there.&nbsp A definite presence.&nbsp She talked to me and I was filled with hopes of seeing her fat, sassy, full of health, sashaying around.

We had several days of rain and wind so Tori was now in a pen where she could get out of the weather and be under cover.&nbsp I didn&rsquot want her to expend what energy she had slogging through the mud.&nbsp She was so very thin in spite of FINALLY having feed in front of her 24/7 for the past month.&nbsp

One morning I walked out, heard her voice, but noticed a difference.&nbsp She was not loudly proclaiming her existence.&nbsp Instead I heard a soft, low summons.&nbsp&nbsp She was lying in her pen.&nbsp She was not lying flat out, her head was up, but her back was to me.&nbsp I ran over to her and she talked to me in a low, tired voice.&nbsp She made an effort to get up but could not.&nbsp I tried in vain to flip her over as she had probably been down for a while and I felt that her legs might be numb from the inactivity.&nbsp I could not turn her over on my own, so I worked feverishly to take the front panel off the pen then got some straps and hopped on the tractor.&nbsp I eventually managed to flip her over, massage her legs and body that had lain on the cold, wet ground all night and I talked to her.&nbsp She tried to get up but could not get her hind legs under her.&nbsp I gave her some water and her favorite pellets/grain, gave her a shot of Banamine, and then ran in to call our vet.&nbsp He was unavailable until later in the afternoon so I began calling people to come help me get her on her feet.&nbsp Much later, someone I had never met who works with the emergency rescue folks in our area came out.&nbsp We rigged straps around her body, tied them to the bucket of my little tractor, and finally lifted her to a standing position.&nbsp She was shaking for a bit and then she was able to walk out into the arena!&nbsp I walked her over to the water trough and watched her drink.&nbsp She stopped drinking, and then she just looked at me for a very long time.&nbsp I hugged her, talked to her and quickly set about getting her some feed and a clean blanket.&nbsp I placed the food in front of her and she began eating.&nbsp When I put the clean blanket on her, she lifted her head and she talked to me.&nbsp

The vet arrived and was pleased she was up and eating.&nbsp He felt, that due to her deplorable condition that she might go down again.&nbsp In fact, he was surprised that she had not gone down previously.&nbsp He told me that she definitely had the will to live, but he was not sure if her body would cooperate.&nbsp I monitored her throughout the night.&nbsp Each time I came out she was eating her pellets or standing quietly by the water trough.&nbsp Each time she would talk to me in a low voice acknowledging me and twice she rubbed her head on my chest while I wrapped my arms around her murmuring encouragement.&nbsp Odd.&nbsp She was not one of those horses who rub their head on you.&nbsp She was always on her best behavior, dignified, respectful of your space.&nbsp

The next morning I rushed out to the arena to see how she was.&nbsp As soon as she heard me coming through the gate she talked to me.&nbsp There she was, lying flat out.&nbsp She tried to lift herself into a sitting position but could not.&nbsp I ran for the tractor and the straps.&nbsp I managed to flip her over, undo the blanket and massaged her legs &amp body.&nbsp I gave her another shot of Banamine and held buckets of water for her to drink.&nbsp She could not sit up.&nbsp I used the tractor to lift her into a sitting position and placed several rolled up blankets next to her to give her support.&nbsp It worked for a few minutes but she did not have the strength to remain up and the strain of trying was difficult to watch.&nbsp I called the vet but he was in the middle of a colic surgery.&nbsp I called another vet who arrived within 20 minutes.&nbsp

As she lay in the arena, with her eyes closed yet keenly aware of where I was, I knew.&nbsp You see, she talked to me.&nbsp The long term lack of feed and care had taken its heavy toll.&nbsp Her spirit had been willing but her diminished body had failed her.&nbsp Her gallant efforts.&nbsp Her graceful demeanor.&nbsp Her loving personality.&nbsp She appreciated every touch, every word, every act, every mouthful, and every step.&nbsp She demonstrated the total fundamental nature of a horse.&nbsp Who she was touched me to my very core.&nbsp She moved me so deeply.&nbsp I had but one thing more I could do for this wonderful mare and that was to give her the final gift.

The vet arrived, assessed the situation and quickly prepared to set her free.&nbsp I held her head, rubbed her face and murmured to her while my tears fell on her eyelids.&nbsp She opened her eyes and, for the last time, Tori talked to me.&nbsp There are no words to adequately express my feelings.&nbsp The vet proceeded to let her go.&nbsp She left us with grace, dignity and a huge amount of respect.&nbsp This lovely Arabian mare who asked only to be cared for and gave much, much more than she received.&nbsp

She talked to me.

12/1/2008

Tori has been here a month and although I do not see any hugely significant weight gain, she is no longer listless and no longer falling down due to lack of energy/muscle tone. We did have her feet done within a few days of her arrival. Recently, her teeth were floated and the vet indicated that she does have wave mouth. The vet was disgusted with the treatment Tori had/had not received prior to coming to TIER. The vet indicated that it will most likely take a few months before we start seeing alot of weight gain.

Initially, Tori could only eat small amounts of feed/hay due to the shrinkage of her stomach. She is now eating full meals and a little extra! She devours her pellets/King Feed/flax seed/beet pulp mixture which is topped off with Pawier Vitamins and MSM. She is a bit picky about her hay and doesn't seem to be much interested in Orchard hay.

I recently spoke to someone who knew Tori last year when she was boarded at their place and they indicated that she was fed Alfalfa & A&M. She does get alfalfa along with a small amount of Orchard, but I hesitate to give her too much sugary feed right now.

Her eyes are bright, she's VERY vocal but well mannered. She will receive a detailed grooming session by volunteer Peggy once the weather lightens up a bit. In the meantime, Tori is eating and only had two small gas colic episodes during her first week here probably due to finally having food in her tummy.

11/30/2008

Tori has had all the gunk washed off. There were sores on her legs which have been scrubbed and medicated. They are healing up very quickly.

Tori fell to her knees twice because she was stumbling over her feet. Her feet were long, but I've seen them much longer without horses falling down. What I think was going on is that when she would stumble over those long toes she just didn't have the muscle tone or energy to catch herself in time. Poor Girl. Twice falling was two times too many. Remedy = have her feet trimed. What a concept! Her feet were trimmed 11/22.

She is feed Kruse 80/20 pellets and alfalfa. Yup alfalfa. The majority of the residents here get Orchard hay. Tori just can't eat it due to teeth issues and being a bit picky. I'm not fond of feeding alfalfa, but if that's all she can eat right now that's what she'll get! Once she has gotten a bit stronger we will address the teeth issue. Most probably a float to begin with. Funds are really tight so a full on dental will have to wait for awhile. I don't think she can take a full on dental right now anyway.

So...she's eating, drinking and pooping. Her feet have been done. She's been brushed a bit every day, but she is not shedding any of that heavy coat yet. She's allowed to roam in the arena (all the pens border the arena) so that she can pick out a buddy. Looks like she's a girly girl as she favors a couple of the boys for companionship. She does like to spend time with Dolly and Annabelle the Donkey.

Tori doesn't like her pellets soaked, so I only add ProBi and also Pawier vitamins to her morning feeding.

She is a talker. A LOUD talker. Everytime you walk past her pen she hollers. Poor girl has been without for so long she continues to ask for more. She is a lovely mare with a very solid personality. Once that halter is on she is all business. I'm hoping she comes back fairly soon. She has no chest, no butt, and when you lift her tail you can see all the way to China! What she went through is so wrong.

It is our hope that we will see a BIG difference by the end of January or beginning of February. As of today I can see a bit of a difference in that the hollows in her flanks are a little fuller. Progresss! She's bright eyed, furry (from starvation) and vocal.

11/23/2008

Hey, Hey, HAY! Moses is here! I snuck in here again and I see that everyone is really busy doing good stuff for horses all across this land!! YEE HAW!

O'l Wattzername is busy too, but she&amprsquos busy with our latest resident. Cuz O'l Wattzername is busy with the new girl (takin pictures of her, running off at the mouth to the poor girl, wiping tears from her eyes, brushing, etc.) I'm able to get on this computer thingy.

The new girl is named Victoria. Pffffft! Kind of a schmancy fancy name and she looks older than the hills! She's one of them Arabians and is gray with some dark hairs in her forelock. She may have a fancy name but she quit being fancy awhile back. We are callin her Tori and she doesn&amprsquot seem to mind. Even though she looks to be older than dirt, we were told that she is 16 yrs. old and registered.

Tori lived a little ways from here with about 4 other horses. If I stood in a paticular spot out here, I could see those horses and give 'em a hello every once in awhile. The horses started disappearing one by one as they were sold off earlier this year. Tori was left behind and I could tell she was losing weight. O'l Wattzername noticed too and had been kinda keeping an eye on her. O'l Wattzername kinda knew that the people who had Tori were in a financial bind (who isn't these days????) and was eyeballing that gray mare every time she went driving down that particular road. It didn&amprsquot seem that Tori was getting enough feed and maybe she was depressed cuz her friends had all been sold off and she was alone.

Now O'l Wattzername has been pretty uptight because of hay prices, donations being down, etc. and the decision was made to NOT take in any horses for the time being. When she&amprsquos out here feeding us each day she tells us about the emails &amp phone calls she gets about horses that need help. We just aren't in a position to help any more horses right now, but O'l Wattzername does try to network with other rescues and people that might be able to extend a helping hand. She sure gets down about not being able to do anything cuz she&amprsquos trying real had to keep the current residents ok.

So Miss "we just can't afford to take in any more horses" goes drivin down that road where Tori lives and sees her owner outside. She told me she that when she made that U-Turn to go back to where Tori lived she was just gonna see if there was some way she could help the owner take better care of Tori. Tori looked pretty thin just seeing her from the road but when O'l Wattzername got up close and personal her heart started breaking. She talked to the owner about getting Tori's teeth done, having a blood panel drawn cuz Tori's coat is real thick and she might have that Cushings thing (I think she's all fuzzy due to long term lack of feed. Seen it before with the Amazing Grace &amp Slim) and maybe feeding her some soaked pellets. As the conversation went on and on and on (did I tell you O'l Wattzername likes to run her mouth?) Miss "we just can't afford to take in any more horses" tells the owner he can bring Tori over and she will try to help her get better. She does tell the guy that she would be doing it to help Tori and that he would need to pay for feed (we'll see how that goes) and that it most likely will take a couple months as Tori is looking mighty poor. She tells the guy to think about and gives him some feed recommendations complete with instructions.

11/20/2008

3:00 p.m. 11/20/08 and the owner comes up the road leading Tori! HAAAAAA! She sure is a noisy Arab lady (most the Arabs here are kinda talkative) She hasn't pulled her head out of the feed bin or pellet bucket since she got here except for the photo shoot. While she was gettin her picture took she kept tryin to go back to her feed. Oldl Wattzername finally gave up and took her back to get some nourishment.

The poor gal is really fuzzy and neglected. Her tail is one solid mat about the size of a baseball bat. There is black gunk on her right hind leg and you can see where she is all crusty on her forelegs. That is all gonna change tomorrow when Oldl Wattzername has a day off from her paying job and she can spend some time cleanin this gal up! At least she doesn't have that rainrot stuff on her back that some of the others have had when they got here. Whew...she does need a beauty treatment. Feet and teeth will have to wait until funds pick up a bit as we need to get some hay in here for the rest of us!

We are all glad to see Tori here and hope she gets better soon. I'm gonna tell Old Wattzername to send pictures to Ted so that they can get posted. In mean time, I need to get out there and let Miss Tori know that I will be lookin out for her and that she is gonna be okay. I remember seeing her across the way about a year ago and she was a pretty hot mama for an Arab. Hopefully, she'll have that sashay back in her walk soon!